The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20
DOINGS In DIXIE.
Events of a Week in the Sunny
Southland.
PROHIBITION CONVENTION.
GEnItnTA.

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GEORGIA.
A party Of Y irsinians tho Bethel Bros.
Byrdsyille, and Mr. j. II. Scales, Of Cascade
Va, have been at Albany several days on
visit TO the famous Mud creek stock farm o
Messrs. Moorehead and Saltcr. These gentle
men are surprised and delighted Al the adyan
tages this section presents for farming aut
stock raising. MIR. j, II. Scales. who is th'
son of Governor Scales, of North Carolina
purchased q sucking colt for which he pal,
$500. The Beliefs purchased eight horse
foaled upon Mud Creek farm, and ranging il
age from one 10 four years, for which they paiC
the sum of $500 They are to place then
upon their stock farm IN Virginia, the obiec
Of their visit here having been 10 purchase
blooded horses. The gentlemen were delighted
at an exhibition Of the preference of the horse
for hay made upon the farm from the natura
grasses, which spring up in the field without
planting, over the choicest western hay, pile
Of both having been placed before the stock
and the preference shown for the native hay
The most exciting race ever seen in that
section. was run on the South Carolina road
a few evenings ago, and is reported from Au-
gusta.
An engine and train OF cars chasing a buck
| on the track made the race.
1t was n bright moonlight night, in fact, al
| most as bright as day. The up South Caro-
lima passenger train had Just crossed the Edisto
| river bridge, shortly after eight o'clock, when
| Engineer Roberts ard his fireman spied
/ large deer on the track, some three or four
| hundred yards ahead. The train moved on,
| but the buck stood with head erect,
| gazing at the approaching locomotive
| until it seemed that the coweatcher would
strike il. At that moment, with quick
movement, it wheeled and started off mp the
track at lightning speed The engineer was
in Tor race, having straight track ahead,
and quickly opened his throttle. The ponder
Gus machine bounded forward and then the
race commenced in earnest Down the track,
at lightning speed, ran the deer, closely pur-
sued by the engine the engineer at the throt-
tic and the fireman shoyelng in coal, both do
ing their utmost to outrun the deer.
The conductor and passengers, wondering at
the rapidity Of the train, quickly raised the
windows and popped their heads out to see q
sight never witnessed by any one of them be-
fore. No one was afraid, but all excited; in
fact, excitement reigned supreme. All could
see the beautiful buck ahead and in breathless
anxiety were awaiting the termination Of the
race. Men cheered and ladies clapped their
hands, but on, ON, like the wind sped the deer,
clearing ten to twelve cross-ties at a bound and
keeping from twenty to thirty yards ahead of
the swiftly speeding train. The engineer and
conductor we're even all excitement.
But look look!" cried everyone "the deer
Is losing ground" True it was. ihe engine
commenced TO gain slowly, but perceptibly
and in the next half mile the deer was only
few feet in front, when suddenly it bounded
off the track and into the woods.
The most daring and successful revenue raid
ever accomplished in the south since the SER
vice was established, occurred last Sunday in
PiCkcns county.
The raid was made By Colonel l. w. Alex
ander, one of the most intrepid officers in the
department, assisted by Deputy Stephens.
Colonel Alexander received intimation as
long ago as last August that the Petit broth
ers, Moss and Turner, four notorious moon
sinners were operating an extensive Illicit
distillery somewhere in the neighborhood Of
Jasper, in Pickens county. The revenue men
| followed mp all clues and trails but would in
| the end find themselves at fault. II there
were any stills in that part of the country they
| were ingeniously concealed, for the most per-
| sistent and vigilant endeayorS of the Deputies
| failed 10 discover them. Colonel Alexander
| was not discouraged, however, and he resolved
| that he would vet ferret ont the m0onshiners
| and capture their still. Last wees he roosiysd
| certain information that caused him 10 locate
| the loug-looked for distillery about FIVE
| miles 10 the west of Jasper. Accordingly he
| pressed into service Deputy STEPHENS, one of
| his most trusty men, and prepared to make the
| raid. Saturday night found him in the woods
| adjoining the plantation on which he felt sure
| the still was Hidden. lie and his man laid
| quiet until shortly before davbreak Sunday,
| when they stealthiiy orept toward hole into
which they had described several figures en-
| tering, and they listened. Suppressed voices
| could be instinctly heard below Evidently
| the officers were on the right track. They did
| not remain inactive long. Their time had
| come and they lowered themselves into the
| opening. Their approach was observed by
| some Of the workncn who gave the alarm and
| the moonshiners scampered away, making
their exit from tie other side Of the distillery
| One of them was followed several hundred
| yards, but escaped III the darkness. As soon as
| ii was light enough to admit OF n search being
| made Colonel Alexander and his companion
thoroughly explored the subterraneau distil-
| lery. 1t was a very extensive concern.
excavation
| thirty feet square. In it a one hundred gallon
| still was in operation. large quantity Of
mash and beer was found, but no whisky could
| be discovered. II was subsequently learned
| that the men had carried Oft, tho night before,
| several hundred gallons OF liquor The distil-
| lery was fully equipped for turning out twenty
| gallons OF whisky day. The raiders were
| puzzled 70 understand how the distinery could
| have been run without water. II is well under
| stood, among all who are familiar with the
| business, that dstilleries are always near
water. This site being far removed from any
water course Is the reason, perhaps, why the
| officers never before suspected its existence
A close examination of the cavern
| revealed the secret. From the
| sides Of muddy log water was dripping
| The earth was brushed aside and the conduit
| was found TO be hollow trees joined together
| These wooden pipes ran distance of not less
| than POO yards. The way in which they were
| connected showed considerable ingenuity In.
| deed the interior arrangements all denoted the
| well known cunning OF the moonShiner. All
that was valuable about the still was saved
| but all else was destroyed
After leaving this underground distillery
the raiders became satisfied that they could
find another ono near by. After some little
time and trouble they struck a fresh trail and
followed it successfully TO the end Only a
quarter of a mile away they seized another
underground dstillery, nearly as extensive as
the other. This was similarly arranged and
was found to have capacity for daily out.
put Of Is gallons. A large quantity Of mash
and beer was found. This was DESTROYED and
the copper still was saved. No arrests were
made the owner and his men having beat
retreat upon the raiders approach
About four hundred yards from this place
another large distillery was seized. This, too
was hidden under the gtound. The ground
over IL was cultivated, and the entrance and
exits were cunningly concealed from view
The interior arrangements were like those
described.
lToltho amazement OF the officers another sub
terranean whisky mandatory was run upon
This was about MS large rs the first. just be
fore the officers approach the workmen hat
been busy, butEnone of them were captured
A good doal Of material was here destroyed
These four extensive distilleries were sifuat